India vs Australia: Let’s see how aggressive is Virat Kohli as captain, says David Warner

The Australian mind games targetting India's new Test captain Virat Kohli continued today with opener David Warner...

The Australian mind games targetting India’s new Test captain Virat Kohli continued today with opener David Warner saying that it would be interesting to see how “fiery” the batsman would be when he leads the side out in the fourth and final cricket Test starting here on Tuesday.

“I’d like to see him, if he’ll come out with the same aggression as last Test, if he will do it as captain,” Warner said.

Kohli took over Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who announced a shock retirement from Test cricket.

“MS (Dhoni) thinks a lot about the game, he’s very knowledgeable, He knows how to go about getting each individual out. You can see the plans and you know what they’re going to bring to the table. In that way he’s a very, very smart captain.

“In that way it was always challenging being out there because it was in the back of your mind what trick he had up his sleeve today. Whether it was for me having two people out. I saw last game they didn’t have anybody out for the pull shot which for me I thought they’re going to pitch the ball up and get me driving which they did,” Warner said in praise of Dhoni.

The opener said it remains to be seen what Kohli brings to the table.

“And Virat straight away had two players back which is the thing we use – to mix up the batsman’s feet and have him thinking the short ball is coming then try and get them playing forward. The way Kohli is and goes about the game he’s a fiery character but he goes out there and plays with his heart on his sleeve,” he said.

Speaking about the charged up atmosphere in which the series is being played, Warner said no player should cross the line even but admitted that he himself had been guilty of it.

“I wouldn’t say crossing the line, but I’ve been guilty of it sometimes in the past. Just the way we celebrate wickets, not just the Indian team, we do it as well. Sometimes we’ve all got to be careful not to get overexcited and get in the batsman’s face.”

“Let them walk off, the best thing you can do is turn your back and give them the silent treatment when you get them out, because you have the last laugh doing it that way,” Warner said.

“I know I have to learn, and I’ve learned from that in the past, but I think all of us can take a message from me, which is a surprise.”

Warner joked that with Mitchell Johnson ruled out of the match, he does not have enough backup to sledge the opposition too hard.

“I don’t know how I’m going to sledge anymore … he usually backs me up a bit.

“Mitch has got that x-factor and brings that to the table. I think the opposition sometimes get that fear in themselves that they’re going out there to face Mitchell for three or five overs, they’ve got to get through that tough period. But we’ve got great stock behind us,” Warner said.

“We’ve got guys like Mitchell Starc who can bowl 150kph, we’ve got plenty of stock being groomed at the moment for the next couple of years, there’s Pat Cummins, we’ve seen what Josh Hazlewood can do, up above 140kph, steep bounce, swings it. You’ve got Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, these guys do a great job for us.”